8347. 'And they went three days in the wilderness and did not find water' means that truths were lacking, and at length were plainly so. This is clear from the meaning of 'three days' as that which is complete, dealt with in 2788, 4495, 7715; from the meaning of 'the wilderness' as a state when temptations have to be undergone, dealt with immediately above in 8346; and from the meaning of 'water' as the truths of faith, dealt with in 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668, so that 'not finding water' means that truths were lacking. The fact that they were plainly lacking is meant by 'going three days'; and the words 'in the wilderness' are used because there they were tempted, as follows next.